MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
StartUp Hutch has been awarded a $25,000 grant to provide entrepreneurship training aimed at helping Reno County residents increase their economic opportunities through business ownership.
The Reno County Community Wellness Coalition announced the funding through the Pathways to a Healthy Kansas initiative, supported by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas.
The grant will support a two-year entrepreneurship initiative through StartUp Hutch featuring two sessions of “Who Owns the Ice House?” The pre-accelerator course focuses on developing entrepreneurial thinking, problem-solving skills and an economic mindset.
The program is specifically designed for Reno County residents from ALICE households. ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed and describes households that earn above the federal poverty level but still struggle to afford basic necessities.
According to the Wellness Coalition, the grant will allow eligible residents to participate in the program at no cost. Funding will cover instruction, meals and marketing associated with the initiative.
Organizers said removing those costs is intended to make entrepreneurship education more accessible to residents who may otherwise face financial barriers to exploring business ownership.
The course is designed to help participants develop the skills and mindset needed to identify opportunities, solve problems and determine whether entrepreneurship could provide a pathway toward greater economic mobility.
The Reno County Community Wellness Coalition has participated in the Pathways to a Healthy Kansas initiative since 2017. The coalition said the partnership with StartUp Hutch is intended to support local entrepreneurs while strengthening families and contributing to a healthier and more economically resilient Reno County.
Pathways to a Healthy Kansas works with communities on strategies intended to improve health and quality of life by addressing factors that influence residents' well-being, including economic opportunities.